2023/24

The module sets up the relativistic analogues of the Schrödinger equation (part I, weeks 1-5) and introduces quantum field theory and the density matrix (part II, weeks 6-10). The best equation to describe an electron, due to Dirac, predicts antiparticles, spin and other surprising phenomena. However, Dirac’s equation also shows the need for quantum field theory (QFT). This is where the wavefunctions of matter and light themselves are quantized (made into operators).